Clamp for clarinet mouthpiece-reeds.



L. H. STARKEY.

SLAM? FOB. CLARINET MOUTHPIEOE REEDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS H. STARKEY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 GEORGE C. SACKETT, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP FOR CLARINET MOUTHPIECE-REEDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

Application filed May 19, 1910. Serial No. 562,234.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS H. STARKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Clarinet Mouthpiece- Reeds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in reed fastenings for clarinet mouth pieces.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of clamp whereby the reed may be securely fastened to the mouth piece of the instrument and quickly released to permit the removal of the reed.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of a clarinet mouth iece and reed illustrating the application 0 my improved clamp and showing the parts in locked position for holding the reed in place; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts released to permit the removal of the reed; Fig. 3 is a plan view with the parts as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of the clamp.

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 denotes the mouth piece and 2 denotes the reed. My improved reed clamp comprises a clamping and 3 which is formed of a strip of spring sheet metal and is adapted to embrace the reed and mouth piece in the manner shown in the drawing. In the preferred form of the invention the clamping band is provided on its adjacent ends and near one edge with pivot lugs 4 said lugs having inclined and forwardly tapering outer surfaces as shown. Also formed on said ends of the band adjacent to and s aced a suitable distance from the pivot ugs 4 are a air of clam ing 111 s 5 the outer corners 0 which are s ightly eveled or formed at anangle for a purpose herein described.

In the lugs 4 are formed alined apertures with which is engaged a pivot screw 6 which 1s also engaged with the outer ends of a pair of clamping bars 7. The pivot screw 6 has a' loose engagement with the end of one of the bars 7 and a screw threaded engagement;

with the end of the opposite bar whereby said bars may be spaced apart to the desired distance. By thus engaging the pivot screw with the bars 7 and lugs 4 said bars are pivotally connected with the lugs and are adapted to be swung inwardly and outwardly thereon to operative and inoperative positions as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The bars 7 are connected together adjacent to their free or outer ends by a connecting screw 8 said screw having a loose enga ement with one of the bars and a screw t readed engagement with the other bar. By thus engaging the screw 8 with the bars 7 the outer ends thereof may be adjusted to the desired distances apart. By thus ivotally connecting the forward ends of the are 7 with the lugs 4 and connecting the opposite ends of the bars together in the manner described said bars will when swung down on the lugs a and into engagement with the ln s 5 draw said lugs and the adjacent ends 0 the band together thereby clamping the reed int-o tight engagement with the mouth piece. When the bars are swung upwardly to inoperatlve position as shown in Fi 2 of the drawing the band will be release and permitted to spring apart to a sufiicient extent to (permit the removal or insertion of the rec In the modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing the opposite ends of the band are provided with a single pair of outwardly projecting elongated lugs 9 the outer surfaces of which incline from their inner toward their outer ends and also taper from a point near their rear ends to their forward ends. Pivotally engaged with the narrow or tapered front ends of the lugs in the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form of the clamp are clamping bars 10 the outer ends of which are adjustably connected to gether by an adjusting or connecting screw 11 which corresponds with the screw 8 shown in the first figures of the drawing. The bars 10 when swung inwardly engage the beveled and inclined outer surfaces of the lugs and securely force the same together thus drawing the band into tight engagement with the mouth piece and reed and securely holding the latter in place. By beveling or inclining the outer surfaces of the lugs the bars 7 and 10 are more readily engaged therewith when swung downwardly or inwardly to operative position. In the opposite sides of the band are formed openings 12 which are provided to reduce the weight of the bands and also for ornamental purposes.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim 1s:

1. In a clamp of the character described, a spring metal band, clamping lugs arranged on the adjacentends of the band, and a pair of clamping bars adapted to be swung into engagement with said lugs to draw the band together into operative engagement with a mouth piece and reed whereby the latter is securely held in position on the former.

2. In a reed clampfor clarinet mouth pieces, a spring metal clamping band adapted to be engagedwith a mouth piece and reed, clamping lugs arranged on the adjacent ends of the band, said lugs having beveled and tapered outer surfaces, a pair of clampin bars pivotally connected to said lugs an adapted to be swung downwardly thereon for the purpose of drawing the same and the ends of the band together to clamp the reed to the mouth piece, and means to adjustably connect said bars together.

3. In a reed clamp for clarinet mouth pieces, a clamping band adapted to be en gaged with the mouth piece and reed, a pair of pivot lugs arranged on the adjacent ends of the band near one end, said lugs having beveled and tapered outer surfaces, a pair of clamping lugs also arranged on the adjacent ends of the band and spaced a suitable distance from said pivot lugs, a pair of clamping bars, a pivot screw arranged in.

one end of said bars, said screw having a loose engagement with one bar and a threaded engagement with the other whereby the bars are adjusted to vary the distance be tween them, and also having a loose engagement with said pivot lugs whereby the bars are pivot-ally connected thereto, and a spacing and connecting screw arranged 1n said bars adjacent to their outer ends, said screw having a loose engagement with one of said bars and a threaded engagement with the opposite lever whereby the outer ends thereof are adjustably connected together to the proper distance for drawing the lugs and ends of the band together when the bars are swung down into an operative position in engagement with said clamping lugs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS H. STARKEY. Witnesses:

S. A. KILBURN, C. E. OSBORNE.

./ copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

